June 1 2008, Atlanta Woodwind Quintet

This free Concert in the Park, part of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival's community outreach, is supported by a $7,200 grant from the Rayonier Foundation, a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that also supported other concerts of American music at the recently concluded Festival, and a $2,500 donation from First Coast Community Bank.

The Atlanta Woodwind Quintet, featuring the principal winds of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, will perform music composed by such American greats as leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, John Philip Sousa, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber and Scott Joplin.

Christopher Rex, artistic and general director of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, said: "Our free Concert in the Park was originally scheduled for June 1 as part of the Festival's seventh season but had to be postponed due to inclement weather. We are delighted that the renowned Atlanta Woodwind Quintet has agreed to return to Amelia Island for this performance of spirited works by great American composers. This exciting and entertaining program has been designed to appeal to a wide range of musical tastes and interests."

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Laura Arden is Principal Clarinet of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, a position she has held since 1982. Prior to coming to Atlanta, she spent four years as resident clarinetist and teaching artist for the Lincoln Center Institute and two years with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Ms. Ardan has performed in the Tanglewood, Marlboro and Mostly Mozart Festivals and has appeared as guest artist with “Emanuel Ax Invites...” on the Great Performers Series in New York’s Lincoln Center. Christina Smith, appointed Principal Flute of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at the age of 20, has appeared as soloist with the ASO many times, performing works by Mozart, Vivaldi, Bizet, Rodrigo, Nielsen, John Corigliano, Christopher Rouse, and Kaija Saariaho. Her summer appearances include the Blossom, Tanglewood, Sunflower, Highlands, Bellingham, Bay Chamber Concerts, and Marlboro Music festivals. Elizabeth Koch became Principal Oboe of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in fall 2007. Ms. Koch has performed as soloist with the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, the Colorado College Summer Music Festival Orchestra, and the World Youth Symphony with Sarah Chang. Carl Nitchie, principal bassoonist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, joined the orchestra in 1971. He teaches at Emory University and gives master classes around the country. He has soloed many times with the Atlanta Symphony and performed with the Atlanta Chamber Players, Georgian Chamber Players, Kennesaw Faculty Chamber Players, Orchestra Atlanta and Atlanta Winds. Susan Welty has played Associate Principal Horn with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra since 1988. Susan has been a featured guest artist for the annual International Horn Workshop and regularly performs in music festivals across the country, including the Bellingham, Grand Tetons, and Amelia Island Chamber Music Festivals.